70,000 Spanish Truckers Blockade Highways In Fuel Cost Protest

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/8737

Industries dependent on fuel fight back in Europe. Jesse Russell Reports:

Earlier this year the President said he didn’t think the United States would see an average fuel price of $4 per gallon. Well, that day has come and the spiking cost of oil isn’t only hit Americans hard, in Europe motorists are seeing prices nearly double what it is in the US. As a result, some 70,000 Spanish truckers on Monday formed a blockade along the border with France bringing traffic in and out of the country to a virtual stand still. Some Portuguese truckers on the western border of the country also participated. And in France, truckers began easing off the gas and slowing traffic in advance of a planned national strike next week. European countries post higher taxes on fuel costs and as a result truckers in Europe are paying on average the equivalent of $7.73 per gallon. As a result of the strike, late on Monday gas stations in northeastern began running out of fuel. According to Spanish news reports. many vehicles that attempted to cross the truckers blockade ended up with smashed windshields or slashed tires.